Couldn’t Get a Seat at Commencement? Here’s What You Missed.
Grace Church was completely packed on May 28 for the commencement ceremony for the Class of 2018. Up to 10:10 (the ceremony was set to begin on the hour), members of the GCS community were rushing through the aisles searching for a few unoccupied inches in the pews. 
As soon as the crowd managed to settle, the processional music began, queuing the procession of the faculty and graduating students, and the entire church rose to their feet, some to their tiptoes, to catch a glance of the soon-to-be graduates as they filed into their pews at the front of the church.
Mr. Mahabir, Head of the High School, came to the podium first, congratulating the Class of 2018. He made joking references to his traditional summer stories at community meetings at the end of the year and told a new story about sheep and how they represent the importance of community.
A standout moment of the ceremony was the opportunity to hear from members of the Class of 2018. Camille Segre-Lawrence and Jonah Henkle were chosen by their peers to reflect on their time at Grace. 
Camille spoke in the form of a letter to a young Camille stepping through the doors of Grace for the first time. Jonah, although he began his speech with his trademark humor, delivered a moving address on the fleetingness of time and the luxury of perspective. Both Camille and Jonah received standing ovations from their classmates, a testament to how well the grade chose their representatives for the occasion.
After a kind congratulatory address from Mr. Davison, the commencement speaker for the year, former Vice President Al Gore began his address.
He opened his speech by admitting that he had no recollection of who spoke at his high school graduation, nor what they spoke about, and joked that the Class of 2018 probably would not remember him either. Moving on to more serious advice, Mr. Gore shifted the audience’s focus to the country and the civic duty of high school graduates entering the next stage in their lives. He addressed the graduates saying how inspired he was by the, “Enthusiasm and dedication you have to social justice,” referencing the student led walkouts and protests that GCS has taken part in and led. Mr. Gore asked the class to strive to reclaim the integrity of our democracy and to not be afraid of difficult choices. “You will often have to choose between the difficult right thing and the easy wrong.”
Mr. Gore’s final point was centered on the value of diversity. “Diversity is one of the greatest values we have in the USA.” He demonstrated his point by considering the twin telescopes located on the Mauna Kea volcano in Hawaii. Although each telescope can see perfectly well from their respective perspectives, it is only by combining the data from both telescopes that a full view of the sky can be achieved.
The 2016 Medal, given to students who exemplify a dedication to character, community and service, was then awarded to Jane Platt and Elizabeth Tong. 
The Alumni Prize was awarded to Camille Segre-Lawrence and Jonah Henkle. The presentation of diplomas began with each student met by a round of applause and encouraging shouts from their respective families. The whole church then joined together in singing “Amazing Grace,” led by members of the faculty who sang a traditional South African version with words in Swahili, simultaneously.
Finally, the Class of 2018, having entered the church as students, processed onto Broadway as high school graduates and the newest alumni of Grace Church School.